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 2^nd SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: FOLLOW JESUS TO THE MOUNTAIN

(Luke 9:28-36)

After the declaration of Peter about Jesus as the Christ, and the prediction of Christ about the suffering and type of death awaiting Him, Jesus took the Apostles of the inner circle up the mountain. What was His intention of taking them there? What did they witness on the mountain? Can we be part of the closest followers of Jesus Christ to journey with Him this Lenten season? Let us look at the mountain experience of Jesus and the apostles and see how it helps us. Why the upward movement and what really happened?

 

PRAYER

Jesus took them up to pray. Jesus is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. He is always in communication with God the Father. He invites the apostles to learn the act of prayers. He took them away from the worries and distractions of the world to be in touch with the Divine aura. He wanted them to go beyond the low level of operation to a higher, spiritual perception of relationship with God.  There, He showed them the transforming power of prayer. That is to say that the man of prayer doesn't remain the same. Prayer is not just a verbal thing but a reality that manifests itself in your life and daily activity. Have you been changed by your prayers? Have your prayer life been able to convert anyone to Christ? The Lord takes you up this season to pray in a higher and better way.

 

BEHOLD GOD'S GLORY

To understand this well, we have to take a look at the preceding episode where Jesus spoke about the cross. The apostles must have felt frustrated and disappointed with Jesus. Matthew and Mark's account of this same story narrates how Peter couldn't help but rebuke Jesus for painting the image of suffering. Taking them up therefore Jesus tells them it's not going to end in sorrow. It's not going to be an empty suffering but a rewarding one. That after the rains, the sun must shine, that out of the darkness of pain and tears, joy and happiness must radiate.

 

LIBERATION

 Before the coming of Christ, the Israelites were held bound by the law. They were subjects of the law. The law is represented by Moses. Jesus came, born a subject to the law, to redeem the subjects of the law. He enters into conversation with Moses to put away and cause a disappearance of the vestiges of the law. To set His people free, to bring about the inclusive new law of love. It is no longer the exclusive mosaic law that people didn't dare to near the mountain for fear. It is about freedom. 

He goes on to bring about the fulfilment of the promises and prophecies of God for humanity. In Elijah, we saw a beckoning for Christ to ride on to Jerusalem for the salvation long foretold. May the promises of God for your life come to fulfilment.

 

LISTEN

Having manifested how good it is to be in the presence of the Lord, to behold His goodness, Peter desired to remain there. Moses and Elijah were taken away. Then, an important aspect of encounter with the Lord was voiced out by the Voice that came from above: Listen! To keep the word, person, and wondrous doings of the Lord alive in us, we have to pay attention to what the Lord tells us at each point in time.

May we listen to the Lord calling on us this season to the mountain of prayers, to the mountain of encounter, to mountain of transformation, to the mountain of total self-abandonment. May God manifest His glory in our lives. May our worldliness, tears, and problems be transfigured by the presence of Christ. May we remain in constant communion with Christ the Most High.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Thank You, Lord, for Your word today. Thank You for inviting us to the Holy Mountain of Communion and Holy Encounter with You. May we not remain the same after our encounter with You. Transform our situations for good. Open our spiritual eyes and ears. May we follow where you lead. And may we be liberated from spiritual, economic, marital, vocational, and political bondages through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Happy Sunday (Second Sunday of Lent, Yr C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh